The only way any executive or legislator can actually create jobs is by spending public money or hiring public employees. It is beyond irony that the elected officials yelling the loudest about creating jobs through their party's work in government don't seem to think that government is capable of doing anything right. That kind of cognitive dissonance must make it difficult to go to work in the morning.

Looking at the list of states reported in the Journal Sentinel as having the best business climate, I had my own moment of confusion ("Group says climate has improved," Oct. 10). The states with the most robust economies measured by wealth and employment also had the "worst" business climate rankings. Could it be that taxes are not even in the top 10 concerns for business relocation and expansion?

Successful and growing firms are attracted to places with a high-quality workforce, good transportation systems, strong educational institutions and high quality of life. Consumer demand and a diverse economy are what fuel job creation, not a race to the lowest tax rate and the least public spending.

Put another way: I've been to Wyoming, South Dakota and Nevada, and you couldn't tax me enough in Wisconsin to get me to move there, much less start a business.

Aaron SzopinskiMilwaukee

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Stop growth of factory farms

One would be hard-pressed to find a Wisconsinite who has not enjoyed what Wisconsin's beautiful lakes have to offer. I am no exception, and the Journal Sentinel's recent article about the Wildlife Society, a group tackling many important issues threatening wildlife, reminded me of another issue dear to me, and presumably any Wisconsin resident who enjoys the lakes as I do ("Wildlife Society convention will tackle several conservation issues," Oct. 6).

That issue being these lakes are becoming a muddled brown shadow of their formal selves. Factory farms are polluting Wisconsin's lakes with animal waste, polluting our drinking water, rendering lakes unusable for human activity and damaging ecosystems that have been around long before any Wisconsin resident has been here to enjoy them.

The state is allowing factory farms to grow unchecked and doing little to ensure they are operating decently and responsibly. The number of farms is growing fast (more than doubled in the last decade) and are being allowed to operate as they are even after multiple environmental violations.

The state can stop more damage being done by halting the growth of factory farms until they comply with the guidelines given them, and operate in a manner befitting of a respectable business.

Drew FenlasonMadison

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Toss out the royalty

I have this grand idea to resolve the political nonsense we are experiencing on the national, state and local levels. I suggest we show the world the power of democracy and vote out of office all incumbents who appear to think they are the kings and queens, lords and ladies, dukes and duchesses of America all supported by special interests, party lines and a growing 1%. Let us regain our democracy.

Anthony WerthMilwaukee

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Radicals attempting a coup

Regarding the looming shutdown in our economy, keep in mind that when a small minority of any party essentially takes over the democratic process for its own particular gain, this is known as a coup d'etat.

A small minority of Republicans are attempting to take over the government, even though a law they detest was put into place by a majority of the House and a super majority of the Senate (60 votes).

This is not democracy. It is a takeover of the government by a few radicals — it is a coup.

If they succeed, then democracy is dead in America.

Ken HeidenGlendale

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Don't pay Congress

As a courtesy to the taxpayers in this state, I would like to see the names of members of Congress who are still collecting salary while our government is shut down. As far as I'm concerned, they're being paid for doing nothing.

I say vote the bums out of office. It's time for them to feel the frustration United States citizens currently feel — right in their pocketbooks. Perhaps that would be the wake-up call needed to get the knuckleheads off their high horses.

Dirk AndersonMilwaukee

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Liberal hypocrisy

How can it be that getting a free ID card to use while voting is, according to liberals, cause for massive disenfranchisement of minorities, the poor and the homeless, while having to spend hours on websites over multiple days needing to understand and complete pages of forms and applications on a computer to register for Obamacare is somehow the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to those same people?